Auckland Wine Region

Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city, with a population of 1.5 million people. Its sub-tropical climate, sheltered harbours, islands, volcanic cones, international airport and big city feel all make it a great place to visit.

Auckland wine region is a large and diverse region, with around 100 vineyards and wineries. Auckland’s soils are mainly shallow clays over hard silty-clay sub soils or sandy loams. Vineyards are mostly planted in pockets of flat land on the drier east coast or in the shelter of Waitakere ranges.

The region is home to some of New Zealand’s oldest established vineyards and is best known for its Bordeaux style wines – mouth-filling Cabernet Sauvignons and complex Chardonnays. You will need a car and at least three days to explore the wineries of Auckland.

Auckland’s most northern wineries are located on the east coast around the towns of Warkworth and Matakana, roughly one hour’s drive north of Auckland. The region has earned an enviable reputation for producing Cabernet Sauvignon and has since experienced a very rapid growth in both red and white wine production.

West of Auckland City is the traditional winemaking districts of Henderson, Kumeu and Huapai. Scenic and sunny, it is a fashionable place to visit. It offers a relaxed lifestyle, some very good restaurants and some of Auckland’s best and newest wineries, all specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay based wines. Kumeu is a 16 kilometre drive to the northwest of central Auckland, and is characterised by vineyards and wineries, horticulture, pastoral farming and lifestyle blocks.

A half an hour drive south of Auckland City is Clevedon, Auckland’s most recent premium wine district, where you will find small pockets of grape vines planted in rolling farmlands.